Google honors author Chinua Achebe with a new Doodle

Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe on what would have been his 87th birthday with a new Doodle.

Google's homepage pays homage to Achebe's African heritage and features his likeness alongside icons representing his most famous literary works.

Achebe is considered to be the father of modern African literature with his work known for telling "the world the story of Nigeria through the eyes of its own people," Google wrote.

"His characters were insiders -- everyday people such as the village chief (in Things Fall Apart), the priest (in Arrow of God), or the school teacher (in A Man of the People). Through their stories, we witness a Nigeria at the crossroads of civilization, culture, and generations," the company continued.

Things Fall Apart, which was published when Achebe was 28, recounts the demise of an Ibo man in Southwestern Nigeria under the impression of 19th century British colonial rule. The release is required reading for many students and and has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, Time reported.

"His pen brought to life the land and traditions of the Igbo: the hum of everyday village life; the anticipation and excitement of sacred masquerades; the stories of the elders and the honor of warriors; the joy of family and the grief of loss," Google said.

Achebe who died in 2013, was awarded the Man Booker Prize in 2007.